Flexing machine



Jan. 25, 1938.

E.FOGELSON FLEXING 11110111111:

Filed Aug. 1, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l E. FOGELSON FLEXING MACHINE Jan. 25, 1938.

Filed Aug. 1 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 B d o w im Jan. 25, ,1938.

Tigr. 3.

E. FOGELSON FLEXING MACHINE- F'iled Aug. 1, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FLEXING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig? 5 Patented Jan. 25, 1938 FLEXING MACHINE Emil Fogelson, Boston, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 1, 1936, Serial No. 93,828

58Glalms.

My invention relates to machines by which work-pieces, such as soles for shoes, are rendered more flexible.

In the making of shoes, it is frequently desired to impart. to the soles a greater degree offlexibility than is natural to the leather from which they are formed. The treatment required varies with the thickness and character of the stock and the preference of the manufacturer, a greater or If) less flexing action being called for and this being applied to difierent, portions of the soles considered along their lengths. It is an object of this invention to meet these requirements by the provision of a machine which is simple, compact and l eflicient, applying to the work in asmall compass repeated bending effects in opposite directions, by members which are controllable as to the degree and extent of action and which may be caused to produce considerable flexibility without dangerof injury to the stock.

In the attainment of' this object, as a feature of the invention, I advance the soles or other workpieces preferably along a path. which has onev or more rectilinear portions, such as may be furnished by conveyor-chains having opposite runs. Toward and from the path of work-advance move opposite work-engaging members, at one side two of these members being shown and at the other one member, which passes between the other two. The members may consist of rods or rolls mounted upon levers which may be geared to move together and are actuatedby a rotatable cam. The work is herein shown as grasped by a pair of jaws upon the conveyors, one of which jaws is :r, forced toward the other, as by a spring, to prepare for a work-clutching action. The intermeshing of the flexing members causes the workpieces to be bent in opposite directions as they are advanced by the jaws and thus subjected to an m effective loosening of the fibers, and when this occurs during rectilinear movement of the work"- pieces, the bending angle is constant, thus giving a uniform action during the entire treatment. As

herein illustrated, the conveyors carry a plurality of-pairs of jaws, and separate flexing mechanisms act successively upon work held between the jaws while pieces are traveling with 'opposite runs 01' the conveyors. At the same time, a work-piece,

the operations upon which have been completed;

gardless of the particular arrangement of the flexing instrumentalities, as another feature provides for varying the time during which a movable flexing member acts upon the work and the extent of such movement. variations is preferably made both as to the time of initiation of the bending actionand its. termination. In the present instance, I accomplish this by employing such an actuating member as a cam having sections each of which may be secured in difl'erent positions to diversely afiect the flexing member or members. Thus, with a shoesole, bending may begin in any relation to a limiting point, as the forward extremity of the shankportion, and end atanother point, as the rear of 15 the box-area. To control the amount of bending, a flexing member has associated with ita projection which may be secured in different angular positions with relation to said member. Conse-- quently, when an actuating member contacts with said projection, the extent of the eflective bending movement will depend upon this relation. I have herein disclosed for this purpose the flexing member as carried by a spindle, about which an arm is capable of movement, there being provided a variable connecting device comprising a series of openings and a connecting pin. It is particularly to be observed that all these adj tments, as to points of application and degree of bending action, may be made without disturbing any other.

The connections through which the flexing members are actuated may be so affected, as by the breaking or removal of an element, that a part will assume an abnormal position in which it might be struck by the traveling work-advancing means. As a further feature of the invention, I guard against this by furnishing auxiliary means for moving the flexing members from the'work in addition to the normal means which produces 40 their movement. This auxiliary means preferably acts under the power of the machine and may consist of a cam which rotates with a normally acting cam, the function of the latter being to move the flexing members toward the work. It may be. desired to supply work-pieces in 'a more or less automatic manner to the means by which they are advanced for flexing. Conse 'quently, as still another feature of the invention,

I associate with the advancing means a member movable to deliver the work-pieces to it. This delivery member thrusts the work between the jaws upon the conveyor which preferably furnish the advancing means, said jaws thereupon clutching the piece and carrying it forward for the The first of these 5.

flexing operation. The delivery is made from a support, and co-operating with the support is a member which determines the correct relation of the work for its adyance, said member being thereafter moved out of its active position to avoid interference with delivery. The travel of the jaws; the operation of the flexing mechanism and the movement of the delivery member are all in synchronism, so accurate presentation of the, work and operation upon it are assured. The supply means may be made fully automatic by including a magazine for a stack of work-pieces from which the delivery to the advancing means is made. This magazine, as illustrated, is mounted to move from a position in which work-pieces are placed in it and vertically alined at their forward extremities for accurate delivery, to a position in which the lowermost. piece is prepared for delivery from the thus alined stack. The flexing machine'may be required to operate upon pieces differing in length, and therefore to give this capability without the necessity for adjustment. I have arranged the delivery means to first measure a piece in the magazine and thus prepare for its delivery through a' predetermined distance. This distance will be thatirom the plane of alinement of the work-pieces in the magazine to the correct receiving point for the advancing means, as where the piece is thrust between the grasping jaws. This measuring and delivering action is obtained in the herein disclosed embodiment of ,the invention by a compound delivery-slide associated with the magazine and comprising a carrier-slide and actuating and work-engaging slides movable thereon. A-releasable lock connects the work-engaging slide to the carrier-slide to permit measurement of the pieces in the magazine, and

power is applied to the actuating slide to cause v this to release the lock and then to produce the delivery of the piece.

One of the many forms which my invention may assume is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of my improvedflexing machine with parts broken away;

Fig. 2, an enlarged, partial, vertical, longitudinal section;

Fig. 3, an end elevation of the delivery mecha-' nism looking from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a vertical, longitudinal section through another form of delivery mechanism, and

Fig. 5, an end elevation looking from the right in Fla. 4. The frame of the machine is shown as consisting of spaced end-sections l0 and I 2- supported upona base l4. The section I may be secured to tlie base by slot-and-screw connections Ii, which allow it to be diflerently spaced from the companion section. A screw l8 rotatable in a bracket 20 fixed to the base and threaded into the section II facilitates this adjustment, which is for the purpose of tightening sprocket-chains,

referred to below.. The section I 0 carries the means by which the machine is .driven. In bearings at one side of this'frame-section is jouriialed a short, longitudinally extending driving shaft 22, to'which power may be applied through a belt 23 operating over fast and loose pulleys 24 upon the versely of the frame in the section l0. Upon this shaft 30 and a parallel shaft 32 rotatable in the shaft: and controlled by a belt-shifter it. Through worm-gearing 28 power is transmitted from the'shaft 22 to a shaft 30 journaled trans frame-section l2 are pairs of sprocket-wheels", 34 over which'operate spaced conveyor-chains 3!,

1 means for the mechanisms carried by the respective frame-sections. The upper runs of these chains travel from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and both runs are substantially rectilinear. project inwardly pairs of transversely alined pins 38,." which may be furnished by extensions of the connecting pins for the chain-links. These pairs of pins enter pairs of openings in-the opposite extremities of crossbars 40, which are thus carried upon and advanced by the chains. Three of these bars are disclosed, these belonging respectively to work-grasping devices D which are uniformly spaced about the chains and are advanced thereby at a definite rate. Attached to the outer face and forming a part of each bar' is a plate 42, the inner face 44 of which furnishes an abutment-jaw against which a work-piece may be grasped. Pivoted at its ends upon the bar 40 of each of the grasping devices is a movable jaw 46 having a curved and preferably toothed At intervals about the chains theresurface 48 co-operating with the opposed platesurface to grasp the work. Torsion-springs 50 surrounding the pivots of each jaw 48 urge the surface 4! toward the surface 44. When a piece forces which are set up. After these operations have been performed, as will later be described, engagement of a projection 54 on the jaw 46 with a contact member 55 (Fig. 2) supported upon the section Q2 of the frame will separate said jaw I 46 from the jaw 42 to release the work-piece,

To operate upon pieces grasped between the jaws of the devices D, two flexing mechanisms F and F are provided, the mechanism 1 being mounted upon the frame-section I2 at the outer ends of the upper runs of the, chains 36 outgoing from the work-receiving point and the mechanism F upon the frame-section III at the opposite ends of the lower runs of said chains incoming to the receiving point. These flexing mechanisms save for the location of the elements, may be substantially identical, so that one only will be described in detail. Since the work is introduced into the machine at the frame-sec-' tion l2, the mechanism F of this section will be considered. Mounted in the section l2 below the upper runs of the chains 38 is an oscillatory spindle 56 on which is aflixed a lever L. This lever has spaced arms 58, 54, which are connected by along hub and are situated at opposite sides ofthe path of the'work. The outer ends of the arms 54 are connected'by a rod GI on which a freely rotatable flexing roll "is mounted. Outside the frame at one side, the spindle has a tightly attached flange 6! (Fig. 3), in. which is an arcuate series of openings 14. (Io-operating with this flange 68 is a flange 64 loosely mounted on the spindle it and provided with anioperatinr arm 12. In the flange 64 is an arcuate series of openings spaced from one another by greater intervals than are the openings I4, so that re:-

istration may be produced at any time'between only one of the openings 14 and one of the openings 88. By inserting a connectingpin Ii in diflerent pairs of openings, the arms it may be locked in different angular relations to the arms I2 to regulate the degree ofthe flexing effect. On account of the difference of spacing between the two series of openings, as the opening I4 chosen for the insertion of the pin is located farther along the series, a greater difference'in the angular relation will be obtained. There may be associated with each of the openings I4 a character a inscribed upon the outer face of the flange 68 and corresponding to a certain thickness of material to be operated upon and therefore calling for a corresponding setting of the arms 68. The

pin I6 has a tapered end which, when introduced into any one of the openings I4, will .enter an overlapping opening 66 and force the two into registration. A spring I3 secured to the pin engages the periphery of the flange 68 to retain said pin against accidental displacement. To maintain such a relation between the two flanges 64-and 68 that the pin 16 may always enter both, the flange 64 carries a pin I5 that projects into a larger socket II in the flange 68. Contact of the pin with the wall of the socket prevents too great relative angular movement of the flanges. Articulated to the arm. I2 is one extremity of a toggle "I8, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the frame. The center of the toggle is joined by a link 80 to a lever 82 which carries a roll 84 contacting with a cam C secured to the shaft 32, said angularly about the shaft. In each section is an arcuate opening 90, these openings registering with each other radially of the sections. Through the openings passes a clamping screw 92, this being threaded into a flange projecting from, a

collar 96 fast upon the shaft 32. With the screw 92 loosened either or both of the cam-sections may be adjusted circumferentially of the shaft and fixed in position by tightening. the screw. The righthand end of the slot in section when in contact with the screw 92 (Fig'., 1) fix s the earliest time ofinitiation of the cam-action upon the flexing members, while a slot-and-pin connection 91 between the sections furnishes the limits between which the action of the section 86 upon the roll 84 may be caused to terminate. Scales b and 0 may be provided upon the section 66, associated respectively with the screw 92 and the pin of the connection 9'! as index members, to guide the operator in arriving at the proper angular positions of the sections to give the result sought. The flexing mechanism F. has a cam C corresponding in arrangement and function to 'thecamC.

Above the path of the grasping devices D upon the upper run of the chains 36 a spindle I00 is" mounted to turn in the framesection I2. Projecting, from thisspi'ndle arespaced' arms I02,

I02 of a lever L, these arms being joined by rods I04 carrying work-engaging rolls I06. A dif- Thesegment I08 is shown as formed upon the periphery of the flange 64. The segment H0is provided by a flange I I2 fast upon the spindle I00 'ference in the length of the arms causes one'of and is, in eifect, an arm upon the lever L'. Springs H6, H6 anchored respectively to the anchoring pivots of the toggles I8 and connected respectively to the arms I2 of the flexing mechanisms F and F, normally retract the flexing rolls 62 and I06 of the levers L and L from the path of the work-grasping devices D and maintain the rolls 84 of the levers 82 against the cams C and C. This is as appears at the mechanism F in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Were the springs H6 to break, or be omitted by mistake, the flexing members might foul the grasping devices D as they travel under the influence'of the chains. To avoid the possibility of such an accident, I preferably provide in addition to the springs which normally retract the flexing members, auxiliary means acting under the power of the machine to accomplish such retraction. Upon the shaft 32 at the inner side of one of the. sprocket-wheels 34 is a cam I30, the periphery of which, if the flexing members are in abnormal positions, will engage a roll I32 projecting from one side of a short arm I34 formed with the flexing arms 58. The contour of the cam I30 is such that it will retract the flexing members only in the event that the springs H6 fail to do so.

Assuming that soles S for shoes are to be operated upon-by my improved machine, the adjustments which have been described may be employed in the following manner to meet the various conditions which may be encountered. It is usually desired that only a portion of the forepart of a sole shall be rendered more flexible, the area to be acted upon being that between the shank and a point somewhat at the rear of the I toe-end. The beginning and end of this area will, of course, vary in its relation to the grasping devices D according to the size of the shoe for which the sole is intended. Each sole engaged at its end by the jaws 42 and 46 of one of the devices D will arrive at the flexing rolls 62 and I06 of both flexing mechanisms F and F of the machine at definite times in the operating cycle. To determine where along the length of the sole the rolls shall come into contact with it, it is only necessary to adjust the section ,86 of each of the cams C and C' under the guidance of the scale b to make contact with the roll 84, so the movement of the arms 58 and I02 is started at such time that the rolls 62 and l 06 will begin their action at a chosen 1 portion. Similarly, by setting each cam-section 88 as indicated by the scale a, the action of the cam will terminate so the spring H6 will cause the retraction of the flexing rolls at the desired portion of the sole. Thus. by changing the effecbers act upon the work is altered. 'The degree of flexing action ,may also. require variation. Heavy stock will endure less sharp bendingthan lighter without straining the fibers, and shoe-manufacturers may have different views as to the correct degree of flexibility of soles. ,Or it may be considereddesirabl 'e to produce diiferent flexing effects at the succeeding mechanisms. .A 'greater flexing 'effectmaybe applied at the second mechanism F after the preliminary flexing of the work at the first mechanism F without danger of injury to the stock. ,ffi'f degree of bending is controlled by the extent to which the roll 62 upon the arms and the ,rolls I06 upon the arms I02 intermesh.

in turn, is governed by the angles through which the cams C and C move the corresponding arms I2 in contact with the stock. The rolls are normally spaced from the path of the work-pieces so there is lost motion before they engage the work. The adjustment of the angles between the actuating arms 12 and the flexing arms 58 of the levers L, by the insertion of the pins 16 indiffer-v ent registering pairs of the openings 14 and 66 guided by the characters inscribed at a upon the mechanisms F and F, provides for this effect.

With the above adjustments made in accordance with the requirements of the particular work to be performed, it,is only necessary to introduce the work, piece by piece, between the jaws 42 and 46 of the devices D as these are brought up to the upper horizontal runs of the chains 36, 36'at the entrance side of the first flexing mechanism F.

is Nothing is necessary but to thrust an end of a sole between the jaws until it is; stopped bycontact with the surface 52. The sole is then so located that it will be firmly clamped by the clutching effect of the pivoted jaw 46, which holds it 20 more tenaciously as the withdrawing force increases. After the jaws have passed the flexing field, the arms 58 of the levers L rise and the arms I02 of the levers L descend, causing theroll 62 upon the former to pass between the rolls I06 upon the latter. The sole is thereby bent both down and up as best shown in Fig. 2, so it is subjected to a double and opposite flexing action as the advancing jaws drag it between the rolls. Be fore the second flexing mechanism F' has been reached, the first operation will have been completed. The grasping device and the work-piece held by it then turn and descend to the lower runs of the chains. Here, the action is repeated at the mechanism F. The flexing operations be 3.; ing ithus performed, the piece is released from the jaws by contact of the projection 54 with the stationary member 55. It is to be noted that throughout the operations at both mechanisms the bending effect is uniform, because the jaws follow a rectilinear path as'long as the sole is between the flexing members. If, instead, the jaws were to move up or down, as would be the case when mounted on a rotatable turret, the degree of bending would gradually decrease or increase longitudinally of the sole, introducing uncertainty as to the result. Allthe operations occur in a floor-space little more than the area of the largest sole to be treated.

To bring about the application of the soles s to the grasping devices D mechanically at the proper times, thus relieving the operator of the diiilculty of locating said devices, the machine may be' provided with adelivery mechanism.

-Supported on brackets I40 at opposite sides of the incoming end of the frame-section I2 is a, hori-' .zontal table I42. Longitudinally of this table in ways I44 moves a carriage I46, which is provided.

with a central portion I48 (Fig. 3) projecting upwardly through a slot in the table. The portion I48 preferably has a transversely concaved workengaging surface I50. In a pair of carriage-arms I52, I52 located at opposite sides of the table is mounted to oscillate a horizontal spindle I54, lying across the portion I 48 of the carriage and having secured to it above said portion a member I56. The members I48 and I56 furnish together a pair of work-grasping jaws, the face I58 of the member I56 being curved downwardly and forwardly. It is forced'towardthe surface I 58 by To torsion-springs I60 surrounding the spindle I54. Because of the angle and curvature of the spring actuated member I 56, the jaws permit the free introduction of a sole in the direction of delivery but automatically clutch it to resist opposite or rearward displacement, as in the case of the de- Just as the grasping device, advanced bythe 5.

vices D. The face I58 is also curved transversely, so it is in this direction generally complemertal to the surface I50. When a work-piece is grasped between these surfaces, it is bent transversely, so it is stiffened to better resist longitudinal distortion during its delivery. To fix definitely the point at which a sole or other piece to be delivered shall be-introduced between the jaws I48- and I56, there is carried upon the arms I 52 in advance of said jaws a gate or stop-bar I62. This 10 gate extends between arms I64, I64 pivoted upon the outside of the carriage-arms I52 and is held normally down against or in'close proximity to the surface of the table I42 by a spring I66 en.- circling one of its pivots. The carriage I46 is I: reciprocated by a cam I68 fast upon the shaft 32 of the flexing mechanism F. The effect of the cam is communicated to the carriage by a link I10, adjustable as to length, this link being guided at one extremity adjacent to the cam by an arm 20 I12 pivoted upon the frame, while its opposite end is articulated to an arm I14 fixed to a spindle I16 turning in the brackets I40. A spring I18 joining the arm I14 to the frame holds against the cam I68 2. roll I rotatable at the juncture 25 of the link I10 and the arm I12. Fast upon the spindle I16 is an arm I8I, the upper end of which is connected by a link I82 to the carriage I46. The action of the cam is to hold the'carriage I46 with the'jaws and gate for a time in their rear- 3 ward positions, and then allow them to travel forward under the influence of the spring I18 to deliver the work-piece held between the jaws. During this advance, a roll I84 turning upon a rearward extension from one of t gate-arms 15 I64 is carried downby contact wit li gn inclined surface I86 upon a bracket I88 risin from one side of the table. The gate is thereby lifted above the plane of the sole which is between the jaws and is thus maintained during delivery by a hori- 4o zontal surface I80 upon the bracket, into contact with which the roll I 84 passes after leaving the surface I86.

In the use of this delivery mechanism, the operator, while the jaws I 48 and I56 are in their rear- -l.' ward position, thrusts between them over the table I 42 a sole, until its end is stopped by the gate I62, and then releases it. The carriage I46 now travels forward in synchronism with the particular-grasping device D which is being brought so into'work-receiving position at the flexing mechanism F by the chains 36. As this occurs, the gate is raised clear of the sole and 50 held by the stationary cam-surfaces I86 and I90, respectively.

chains at a definite rate, starts upon its horizontal movement toward the flexing mechanism, the sole being delivered overtakes it, and its end which is outside the delivery-jaws I46 and I56 is pressed between the receiving jaws 42 and 46 against or 60 in proximity to the stop-surface 52. At this time, the pivoted jaw I56 clutches the sole to prevent rearward displacement, but as the delivery-jaws stop and the travel of the device D continues, the sole is dra from said jaws with little resist- 65 mice, tobe carried through the machine. The carriage I46 thereupon starts its reverse travel.

Instead of the work being supplied piece by piece to the delivery mechanism by the operator, the feed may be made ina fully automatic man- Tu ner from a magazine. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, we have pivoted at 200 upon the rear of the frame-section I2 a magazine M provided with a normally horizontal bottom wall 202, a front wall 204, opposite side walls 206, 206 and a top wall 7 208. Through an opening near the center of the wall 206 passes a rod 2l0, this carrying within the magazine a follower 2I2, the pivotal connection 2 between the rod and follower being sufli- .ciently loose to permit some universal movement this bringing all their ends in approximately uniform contact with the wall 204 and therefore in substantial alinement. Then, upon restoring the magazine to its normal position, the follower 2|2 urges the stack toward the wall 202 and maintains the bottom sole in the correct relation-for delivery. At this time, the alined ends will occupy a substantially vertical plane which is in a definite relation to the work-grasping jaws 42 and 46 as they approach the flexing mechanism F. Delivery is made through an opening 2l6 at the bottom of the wall 204, this opening being normally closed by an upwardly yieldable gate 2I6, which retains the bottom sole against discharge during the filling of the magazine and substantiallyalines it with the remainder of the stack. The gate extends between arms 220, 220 pivoted upon the' magazine-walls 206 and thus held normally across the opening 216 against stops 222 by springs 224. At the inner lower edge of the gate is a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface 225. When the lowest sole in the magazine is forced by the delivery mechanism against this surface.

the gate yields to permit its passage. Projecting rearwardly from the frame is a bracket 226 carrying at its top a horizontal guideway 228 extending beneath the magazine. Movable upon the guideway is a compound delivery device comprising three independently movable slides. A main carrier-slide 230 is mounted directly upon the guideway to reciprocate toward and from the flex ng mechanism F. Movable longitudinally of the guideway upon the slide 230 are an actuating and controlling slide 232 and a work-engaging slide 234. Interposed between a projection 236 rising from the bracket and a depending projection 238 from the outer extremity of the slide 230 is an expansion-spring 240, the effect of which is to urge said slide toa lever 248 fulcrumed upon the frame-section 82. A link 250 joins this lever to a lever 262 ful- 1 crumed upon the bracket 226, the lever 252 being. in turn, connected to the slide 232 by links 264. 4

are upward projections 268, between which is pivoted the work-engaging portion proper of said slide. This is in the form of a finger or pawl 2,60, which has a contact-face 262 held normally in? substantially vertical position by a torsion-spring 264 surrounding its pivot. The finger extends upwardly through a slot 266 in the bottom wall 202 of the magazine, so its face 262 may engage the outer end of the bottom sole of the stack with- This movement is opposed by the slide 232,

The work-engaging slide 234 is movable. upon the carrier-slide 230 similarly to the slide 232, being interposed between the latter and a stop 2'66 rising above the outer end of the carrierslide. At the outer" extremity of the slide 2334 the bottom sole in the magazine. ucountering this resistance, the member 214 is I 5 in the magazine and advance this toward the flexing mechanism F, when the slide travels in that direction. Upon movement of the slide in the opposite direction, the finger yields, passing idly along the under face of the sole which is next to be delivered. To insure against'rearward displacement of the lower sole during this return movement, a toothed surface 268-may be formed upon the wall 202 of the magazine, the inclination of the teeth resisting outward movement of the engaged sole but being without efiect for inward travel. A light spiral spring 210, mounted upon'the frame and secured at its outer end to theslide 234, exerts a constant force tend ing to cause said slide to follow the actuating slide 232 when this travels inwardly. Or the spring may be sufiiciently strong to furnish some feeding effect. The work-engaging slide '234may be releasably locked to the main slide 230, to prevent relative movement between the slides, by a clutch device shown herein as of the Horton type. This consists of a roll 212 lying across the upper face of the slide 230 within a slot in a shiftable cage member 214, said member being guided upon the slide 230 between the side walls of the slide 234 and beneath a downwardly inclined wall 216 of said slide 234. Springs 218 carried in bores inthe cage member and contacting with a vertical wall upon the slide 234 force said cage member inwardly and the roll 212 against the inclined wall 216, so, when movement of the slide 234 in the direction of delivery is resisted, this slide is locked to the carrier-slide. The inner end of the cage member projects beyond the slide 234 to receive contact of the slide 232. a

As shown in the drawings, the delivery mechanism has completed its delivering movement and is ready for the reverse movement. The stack of soles S in the magazine M has had the heel-' ends vertically alined by contact with the wall 204 and the gate 2I8 of the magazine, as already described. The slide 232 starts back fromthe extreme forward position, driven by the cam 244. As it travels outwardly, the carrier-slide 230 which it has been holding is caused to follow under theinfiuence of the spring 240. The slide 230 will be arrested in this movement by the stop 242. With it has been carried the work-engaging slide 234, which was left locked to it by the roll 212 at the termination of the preceding delivery. At its extreme of outward travel, as determined by the movement of the carrier-slide, the finger 260 will-have been so positioned that it will be outside the outer end of the longest sole which" the mechanism will be called upon to deliver. Rearw'ardmovement of the actuating slide 232 continues sufficiently after the slides 230 and 234 have been thus stopped, to permit it to engage the inwardly projecting end of the cage member 214, which is thereby shifted to release the roll 212 from its-locking engagement; By this action, the slide 234 is freed from the slide 230 actuated by the springs 218 to cause the roll 212 to exert its locking effect, so the slide 234 is made fast to the slide 230. Movement of the work engaging slide 234 from its outward position to that just indicated provides a measuring action, by which the finger 260 is prepared to correctly start the feed of any sole the magazine may confor movement inwardly by the spring-210. Contain, regardless of its length. During this measuring, the slide 230 is retained against the stop 242 by the spring 240, but as the slide 232 advances, it strikes the projection 243. The slide 230 with the slide 234 secured to it and with the finger 2'60 engaging the sole, is thereby moved forward through a predetermined distance determined by the contour of the cam 2. This movement is such that the forward extremity of the engaged sole thrust beneath the gate 2 l8 will enter between the jaws 42 and 46 of the grasping device D which is just being elevated by the chains 36 to start upon its horizontal travel in cooperation with the flexing mechanism F. As in the delivery mechanism already described, the movements of the slide 232 and of the jaws 42 and 46 are synchronized to insure this delivery. The receiving jaws firmly clutch the thus-delivered sole and complete its withdrawal from the magazine. The delivery mechanism is now ready for the feed of the next sole in the stack this being in synchronism with the arrival at tb l flexing mechanism F of the next grasping device D of the series on the chains 36.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a workpiece along a path having two rectilinear portions outgoing and incoming with respect to a work-receiving point, flexing mechanism acting upon thework over the outgoing rectilinear portion, andflexing mechanism acting upon the work over the incoming rectilinear portion.

2. In a sole-flexing machine, spaced conveyorchains having opposite runs, a plurality of pairs of sole-grasping jaws carried by the chains, and flexing mechanisms associated respectively with the opposite runs of the chains.

3. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, two work-flexing members movable toward and from the path of work-advance, a work-flexing member movable from the opposite side of said path between the two firstmentioned members, and means for moving the members simultaneously in opposite directions.

4. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, two levers fulcrumed at opposite sides of the advancing work, each lever being provided with a work-engaging portion extending across the path of advance, and means for oscillating the levers simultaneously to cause the portions to engage and flex the work.

5. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a workpiece, two levers fulcrumed at opposite sides of the advancing work, each lever having an arm at .each side of the path of advance and a work-flexing rod extending between the arms, and means for oscillating the levers simultaneously in opposite directions.

6. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, two levers fulcrumed at opposite sides of the advancing work, each lever having an arm at each side of the path of advance, one of the levers being provided with two workflexing rods extending between the arms and the other lever having a work-flexing rod connecting the arms and movable between the rods of the companion lever, and means for oscillating the.

8. In a flexing machine, an endless conveyor, opposite work-engaging jaws connected to the conveyor to advance a work-piece, and flexing members movable from opposite sides of the path of the conveyor into engagement with work grasped by the jaws.

9. In a flexing machine, an endless conveyor, opposite work-engaging jaws connected to the conveyor to advance a work-piece, and flexing members movable from opposite sides of the path of the conveyor into engagement with work grasped by the jaws, said jaws having means whereby they are caused to clutch said work to resist its withdrawal by the action of the flexing members.

10. In a flexing machine, spaced endless conveyors, a jaw attached at its opposite extremi ties to the conveyors, a jaw movable upon the conveyor-attached jaw, means for moving said movable jaw to cause it to grasp a work-piece, and flexing members movable upon opposite sides of the path of the conveyors for engagement with the work grasped between the jaws and during its advance by the conveyors.

11. In a flexing machine, spaced endless conveyors, a jaw attached at its opposite extremities to the conveyors, a jaw movable upon the conveyor-attached jaw, means for moving said movable jaw to cause it to grasp a work-piece, there being a surface upon the conveyor-attached jaw by which the extent of introduction of the work between the jaws is determined, and flexing members movable upon opposite sides of the path of the conveyors for engagement with the work grasped between the jaws and during its advance by the conveyors.

12. In a flexing machine, an endless conveyor, opposite work-engaging jaws connected to the conveyor to advance a work-piece, flexing members movable into engagement with the work from opposite sides of the path of the conveyor, and means into co-operation with which the jaws are advanced by the conveyor for releasing the work from said jaws.

13. In a flexing machine, spaced endless conveyors, a jaw attached at its opposite extremities to the conveyors, a jaw pivoted upon the conveyor-attached jaw, a spring for forcing the pivoted jaw toward. the companion jaw, flexing members movable at opposite sides of the path r of the conveyors for engagement with the work grasped between the jaws and during its advance by the conveyors, and a member situated adjacent to the path of the conveyors for contact with the pivoted jaw to release the work.

14. In a sole-flexing machine, a conveyorchain provided with means for grasping a sole,

,levers fulcrumed upon opposite sides of the pathof the sole, and sole-engaging members extending from the levers.

15. In a sole-flexing machine, a conveyorchain provided with means for grasping-a. sole, levers fulcrumed upon opposite sides of the path of the sole, and sole-engaging members extending from the levers and movable thereby in intermeshing relation to flex the sole in opposite directions.

16. In a'sole-flexing machine, spaced conveyorchains, a sole-engaging jaw joined at its opposite extrem'ities to the chains, a jaw pivoted upon the first-mentioned jaw, and flexing members acting upon opposite sides of a sole grasped between the jaws.

17. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, a flexing member for engagement ranged to vary the point at which with the advancing work, means for moving themember to efiect the engagement, and means arranged to vary the time during which the flexing member acts upon the work.

18. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, a flexing member for engagement with the advancing work, means for moving the member to effect the engagement, and means arranged to vary the point at which engagement with the work by theflexing member is initiated.

19. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, a flexing member movable into and out of engagement with the advancing work, means for moving the member to eifect the engagement and disengagement, and means .ar-

the member is separated from the work.

20. In a' flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, afiexing member for engagement with the advancing work, driving means, a member variable in effective length through which power is transmitted from the driving means to the flexing member, and means arranged to adjust the length of the member to determine the time during which the flexing member acts upon the work.

21. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, a flexing member for engagement with the advancing work, driving means, a member formed in sections and through which power is transmitted from the driving means to the flexing member, and means arranged to secure the sections in difierent positions differently affecting the flexing member.

22. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, a flexing member movable into and out of engagement with the advancing work, a

rotatable driving shaft, a cam carried by .the shaft and formed in sections which transmit power from the shaft to the flexing member, and means arranged to secure the cam-sections in different effective positions upon the shaft.

23. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, a flexing member movable into and out of engagement with the advancing work, a rotatable driving shaft, a cam carried by the shaft and formed in two sections which transmit power from the shaft to the flexing member,

means/arranged to secure one cam-section in difierent angular positions about the shaft, and means arranged to secure the other section in difierent positions relatively to the first section.

24. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, aflexing member for engagement with the advancingwork, said member having a projection, means arranged to secure the projection in different positions with relation to the flexing member, and an actuating member acting upon the projection.

25. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, an oscillatory flexing member for engagement with the advancing work, said member having a spindle upon which the member is carried for its oscillation, an arm capable of v movement about the spindle, the arm and spindle being provided with a series of openings and with a connecting pin which may be introduced into one of the openings, and means for actuating'thearm. x

26. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, an oscillatory flexing member'for engagement with the advancing work, said m mber having a spindle upon which the memb r is carried for its oscillation, an arm capable of movement about the spindle; the arm and spindle each being provided with a series of openings a single pair of which may be brought at one time into registration by rotation of the arm about the spindle, means entering the registering openings for securing the armto the spindle, and an actuating member for the arm.

27. In a flexing machine, oscillatory flexing members arranged to operate upon opposite sides member to oscillate it, connections from the thus actuated member to oscillate its companion member, and means arranged to vary the time in an operating cycle during which the actuating means acts upon the flexing member.

28. In a flexing machine, oscillatory flexing members arranged to operate upon opposite sides of the work, gearing compelling the members to oscillate together, an arm projecting from one member, and a rotatable cam acting upon the arm, said cam being formed in sections variable in position with relation to each other.

29. In a flexing machine, oscillatory flexing members arranged to operate upon opposite sides of the work, actuating means acting upon one member to oscillate it, connections from the thus actuated member to oscillate its companion member, and means arranged to vary the distance through which the thus connected flexing members are moved in engagement with the work by the actuating means.

30. In a flexing machine, oscillatory flexing members arranged to operate upon opposite sides of the work, gearing compelling the members to oscillatetogether, an arm projecting from one member, means arranged to secure the arm in different angular positions with reference to said member, and, a rotatable cam acting upon the arm. I

31. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, a flexing member for engagement with the advancing work, means for'moving the member to effect the engagement, means ar-.

ranged to vary the time during which the flexing member acts upon the work, and means arranged to varythe distance through which the flexing member is moved in engagement with the work.

32. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, a flexing member for engagement with the advancing work, driving means for the flexing member, and a series of connectingmembers between the driving means and the flexing member, one of said connecting members having means arranged to vary the time in the operating cycle during which the driving means acts upon the flexing member and another of said connecting members having means arranged to vary the distance through which the flexing member is moved in engagement with the work.

33. In a flexing machine, meansfor advancing a work-piece, a flexing member for engagement with the advancing work, driving means, a member through which power is transmitted from the driving means to the flexing member, means arranged to secure the transmitting member in different angularipositions relatively to the flexing member; a member variable in effective length and acting upon the transmitting member, and means arranged to vary the length of saidmembem 34. In a flexing machine, oscillatory flexing members arranged to operate upon opposite sides of the work, gearing compelling the members to oscillate together, an arm projecting from one member, a rotatable cam acting upon the arm, said cam being formed in sections-variable. in

of. the work, actuating means acting upon one position with relation to each other, and means arranged to secure the arm in different angular positions with reference to the member from which it projects.

35. In a flexing machine, a movable flexing member, means for advancing a work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, normally acting means for moving the member toward and from the work, and auxiliary means for moving the member from the work.

36. In a flexing machine, a movable flexing member, means for advancing a work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, a power-actuated member for moving the flexing member toward the work, a spring for moving the flexing member from the work, and a poweractuated member for moving the flexing member from the work,

37. In a flexing machine, an oscillatory flexing member, a pair of jaws traveling to present a work-piece to the flexing member, a rotatable shaft, and means carried by the shaft for oscillating the flexing member in opposite directions.

38. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-piece, two flexing members movable toward and from the opposite sides of the adyancing work, a rotatable shaft, a cam carried by the shaft for moving the members toward the work, and a cam carried by the shaft for moving the members from the work.

39. In a flexing machine, means for advancing a work-pieceL two flexing members movable toward and from the opposite sides of the advancing work, a spring arranged to move the members from the work, a rotatable shaft, a cam carried by the shaft for; moving the members toward the work, and'a camcarried by the shaft for moving the members from the work.

40. In a flexing machine, flexing means movable to bend a'work-piece simultaneously in opposite directions, means engaging the workpiece to advance it during the action of the flexing means, and means movable to deliver the workpiece tothe advancing means.

41. In. a. flexing machine, a flexing member, means for advancing a work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, means movable to deliver the work-piece to the advancing means, and means movable into and out of active posi tion to locate the,work for'su'ch delivery.

42. In a flexing machine, a flexing member, means for advancing awork-piece to receive the action of the-flexing member, a support for a work-piece, and a. member movable along the support in. contact with the work-piece thereon to deliver it to the advancing means.

43. In a flexing machine, a flexing member, means'for advancing a work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, a. 'support for a work-piece, a member co-operating with the support to determine the relation of the workpiece to the advancing means, said member being movable into and out of its active position, and a member movable along the support in contactwith the positioned work-piece to deliver it to the advancing means. I

a 44. In a flexing machine, a flexing member, opposite jaws traveling to advance a'work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, and a member movable to thrust the work-piece between the jaws.

45. Ina sole-flexing machine, a flexing member, opposite jaws traveling to advance a soleto receive the action of the flexing member, one of said jaws being pivoted to move toward and toadvance it during means, a magazine forwork-pieces, and means from the other to clutch automatically a sole thrust between them, a spring for producing the pivotal movement of the jaws, and a member movable under the 'power of the machine to thrust a sole between the jaws.

46. In a sole-flexing machine, a movable flexing member, opposite chains traveling past the flexing meinber, means for advancing the chains at a definite rate, sole-grasping jaws carried by thechains, a delivery member movable to thrust a sole between the jaws, and means for operating the flexing member, the chains with their jaws and the delivery member in synchronism.

47. In a flexing machine, a flexing member, means for advancing a work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, a support for the work-piece extending toward the advancing means,- and a pair of jaws movable along the support and delivering therefrom to the advancing means a work-piece received between them.

48. In a'flexing machine, a flexing member,

means for advancing a work-piece to receive the,

action of the flexing member, a support for the work-piece extending toward the advancing means, a pair of jaws movable along the support and delivering therefrom to the advancing means a work-piece received between them, and a stop member movable toward and from the support in advance of the delivery jaws.

49. In a flexing machine, a flexing member,

means for advancing a work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, a support for the work-piece extending toward the advancing means, a pair of jaws movable along the support and delivering therefrom to the advancing means a work-piece received between them, a gate co-operating with the support and arranged to receive contact of a work-piece inserted between the jaws, and means (for separating the gate from the support. 4

50. In a flexing machine, a flexing member, means for advancing a work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, a support for the work-piece extending toward the advancing means, a pair of jaws movable along the support and delivering therefrom to the advancing means a work-piece received between them, a gate movable with the jaws and co-operating with the support, said gate being arranged to receive contact of a work-piece inserted between the jaws, and

means into engagement with which the gate travels for separating it from the support- 51. In a sole-flexing machine, a movable soleflexing member, a pair of jaws arranged to receive a sole and advance it for the action upon it of the flexing. member, and a pair of jaws arranged to deliver the sole-to the receiving jaws,

the receiving jaws and delivering jaws respectively resisting disengagement of, the sole by ,the opposite applied forces of sole-advance and soledelivery. I

52. In a flexing machine, flexing means movable to bend-a work-piece simultan ously in opposite directions, means engaging t e work-piece the action of the flexing movable to deliver the work-pieces one'by one from the magazine to the advancing means.

53. In a flexing machine, a flexing member,

- means for advancing a work-piece to receive the action bf the flexing member, a magazine mov- "able between a position in which contained workpared for delivery, and means movable to deliver the work-pieces one. by one from the magazine to the advancing means.

54. In a flexing machine, a flexing member, means for advancing a work-piece to receive the action of the flexing member, a magazine for work-pieces, and delivery means movable to first measure work-pieces contained in the magazine and thereafter to deliver the measured pieces through a predetermined distance to the advanction upon it of the flexing member, a magazine in which soles are arranged in a stack with their forward extremities alined in a plane at a definite distance from the receiving position of the jaws as these approach the flexing member, and a slide by which the soles in the magazine are successively engaged and moved through such definite distance and between the jaws.

57. In a sole-flexing machine, a movable flexing member, a -pair or jaws arranged to receive between them a sole and advance it for the action upon it of the flexingmember, a magazine for a stack of soles, a movable carrier-slide, an engaging slide movable upon the carrier-slide and provided with a finger for engagement with the bottom sole in the magazine, means for moving the engaging slide upon the carrier-slide to measure the sole to be delivered, means for thereupon locking the engaging slide to the carrierslide, and'means for imparting to the carrierslide movement to deliver the sole to the jaws.

58. In a sole-flexing machine, a movable flexing member, a pair of jaws arranged to receive between them a sole and advance it for the action upon it of the flexing member, a magazine in which soles are arranged in a stack with their forward extremities alined in a plane at a deflnite distance from the receiving position of the jaws as these approach the flexing member, a carrier-slide movable through such definite distance, an engaging slide movable upon the carrier-slide and provided with a finger for engage ment with the bottom sole in the magazine, means for moving the engaging slide upon the carrier-slide to measure the sole to be delivered, means for thereupon locking the engaging slide to the carrier-slide, and an actuating slide oppositely movable to unlock the engaging slide and to impart to the carrier-slide its delivery movement.

EMIL FOGELSON. 

